Youth council member praises College Corps for building community ties and skills

A youth council member said they have "had a really great experience with College Corps," describing service at Centro del Pueblo in Arcadia that connects indigenous migrant and Latino students with school clubs and local programming.

The participant told the meeting they serve at Centro del Pueblo, a nonprofit focused on indigenous migrant and Latino populations in Humboldt County, and that their role includes outreach to area high schools and student clubs. "I serve on the youth council, so I will go to a lot of the, high schools in Humboldt County and meet with their, like, Latinx clubs," the youth council member said.

The speaker described concrete activities: planning recreational trips, helping bring curriculum items to life, and providing translating services and presentations about the organization's programs. They credited those duties with expanding their understanding of the community and said the work has given them new skills. "Last year, I became really good at public speaking," the youth council member said. "This year, I've really been able to improve on my Spanish and my translating skills, reading, writing, and understanding, like, documents."

The participant also emphasized practical benefits of the program, saying it offers a flexible schedule and paid work, though they did not specify amounts. "It's been a really great program, and on top of that, I've been able to have a really flexible schedule and get paid," they said.

The remarks were delivered during public comment; no formal actions, votes or policy decisions were recorded in the transcript related to these comments. The speaker framed their testimony as personal experience and direct service work rather than a request for specific board action.